used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
banker'snounUS /ˈbæŋkərz/
possessive form of “banker” — a financier who owns or is an executive in a bank
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
lacking funds
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
Bryant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
commendationnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdeɪʃən/
an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
cynicnounUS /ˈsɪnɪk/
someone who is critical of the motives of others
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
comparative of “deeply” — to a great depth psychologically or emotionally
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
divisible by two
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
expiringverbUS /ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “expire” — lose validity
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
fresnos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
GhastlyadjectiveUS /ˈɡæstli/
shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
From this reading Ghastly mistakes!
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
immediately past
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
lurkingverbUS /ˈlɜːrkɪŋ/
-ing form of “lurk” — lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
engage in
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
Menocal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
mistakesnounUS /mɪˈsteɪks/
plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Ghastly mistakes!
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
and nothing more
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
penumbranounUS /pɪˈnʌmbrə/
a fringe region of partial shadow around an umbra
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
plowsnounUS /plaʊz/
plural of “plow” — a farm tool having one or more heavy blades to break the soil and cut a furrow prior to sowing
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
continue talking
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
pullingnounUS /ˈpʊlɪŋ/
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Some cynic has said the only mistake in life a man can make is "to go broke."
trenchnounUS /trentʃ/
a ditch dug as a fortification having a parapet of the excavated earth
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He was broke, unable to proceed, even while he listened to the banker's commendation.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Bryant did not realize until afterward the irony lurking in the penumbra of the talk with Menocal.
workmennounUS /ˈwɜːrkmɪn/
plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading The workmen were busy, it was true, and the horses were pulling loaded fresnos, and plows were cutting the trench deeper; but that was an expiring motion, a last falling gesture.
